Former Site of the Peasant Movement Institute in Guangzhou

Former Site of the Peasant Movement Institute in Guangzhou

The Former Site of the Peasant Movement Institute in Guangzhou is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, a classic red tourism destination, and a patriotic education base.

The Former Site of the Peasant Movement Institute in Guangzhou is located at No. 42, Zhongshan 4th Road, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. It was established here in 1926 by Mao Zedong and others as the Peasant Movement Institute in Guangzhou.

Located at No. 42, Zhongshan 4th Road, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, the site was originally the Panyu Confucian Temple, which was first built in the third year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1370) and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. The Peasant Movement Institute was initiated by Chinese Communists such as Peng Pai and approved by a resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. A total of six sessions were held from July 1924 to September 1926. The first and second sessions were held at the Hui Prefecture Guild Hall on Yuexiu South Road in Guangzhou; the third, fourth, and fifth sessions were held at No. 1, Donggao Avenue, Guangzhou; and the sixth session was moved to this location. The directors of the first to fifth sessions were Peng Pai, Luo Qiyuan, Ruan Xiaoxian, and Tan Zhitang. The sixth session was held from May to September 1926. The title of director was changed to principal, with Mao Zedong serving as principal, Xiao Chunu as a full-time instructor, and other instructors including Peng Pai, Yun Daiying, and Ruan Xiaoxian. This session enrolled 327 students from 20 provinces at the time. Here, they studied courses related to the peasant movement, military affairs, and politics, underwent military training, and went to rural areas for internships. After graduation, the students went to various places to engage in the peasant movement, making great contributions to the Chinese revolution.

In 1961, it was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

This grand ancient architectural complex consists of a group of buildings with red walls and yellow tiles, simple yet solemn in style. The structures face south and are arranged from south to north, comprising the Lingxing Gate, Pan Pond Arch Bridge, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, and Chongsheng Hall, with grand side corridors on both sides.

The main gate is the Lingxing Gate carved from granite. Entering the gate leads to the Pan Pond in the front courtyard, with a stone arch bridge spanning the pond. Crossing the bridge brings you to a passageway paved with granite slabs in nine rows, leading straight to the spacious Dacheng Gate.

Passing through the Dacheng Gate, you enter a lush courtyard where ancient trees such as kapok, bodhi, longan, and gardenia stand tall and vibrant. The magnificent Dacheng Hall stands on a granite platform. Walking along the passageways on either side of the Dacheng Hall leads to the Chongsheng Hall, with east and west corridors.

History

During the period of the Great Revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong came to Guangzhou three times to engage in revolutionary activities: the first time was in June 1923, when he attended the 3rd National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Guangzhou and was elected...

as a Central Committee member and Secretary of the Central Bureau; the second time was in January 1924, when he came to Guangzhou to assist Dr. Sun Yat-sen in reorganizing the Kuomintang with the help of the Chinese Communist Party and attended the 1st National Congress of the Kuomintang, being elected as an alternate Central Executive Committee member; the third time was in September 1925, when he came to Guangzhou and took up the position of Acting Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in October, overseeing the party’s political journal Political Weekly. From May to September of the following year, he presided over the 6th Peasant Movement Institute and served as its principal, training a large number of key figures for the peasant movement for the Party.

The Peasant Movement Institute was established to meet the needs of the rapidly growing peasant movement. The first session was directed by the Communist Peng Pai, while Mao Zedong served as the principal of the 6th session. The 1st and 2nd sessions were held at the “Hui Prefecture Guild Hall” on Yuexiu South Road; the 3rd to 5th sessions were held at No. 1, Donggao Avenue (now No. 6, Yongxing Street, Zhongshan 3rd Road); and the 6th session was moved to the Panyu Confucian Temple on Huiai East Road (now Zhongshan 4th Road). The institute offered courses on the Communist Party, the history of the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese history, and the history of revolutions in various countries. Lecturers included Mao Zedong and Yun Daiying. Over six sessions, a total of 772 graduates and 25 auditors were trained, with the 6th session having the largest number of participants, the greatest scale, and the deepest impact. There were 318 students from 20 provinces across the country. After graduation, they went to all parts of the country to engage in the peasant movement, becoming key forces in the movement.

Internal Structure

The former site is a wooden-structured ancient architectural complex facing south, surrounded by walls, measuring 35 meters wide from east to west and 154 meters long from north to south. At the front is the Lingxing Gate, inside of which is the Pan Pond and a stone arch bridge. The Dacheng Gate is partitioned with wooden boards and houses the Academic Affairs Office, General Affairs Office, and Duty Room. The east and west side rooms function as the library and the principal’s office. The Dacheng Hall serves as the classroom, while the east and west side corridors were dormitories for teachers and students at the time. The innermost Chongsheng Hall has its central room used as a dining hall, with the east room housing the Military Training Department. In 1954, the former site underwent restoration. It now houses a memorial museum.

Nearby Transportation

Direct access from Exit C of the Peasant Movement Institute Station on Metro Line 1

Attraction Location

No. 42, Zhongshan 4th Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City

Dezheng North Community: Dezheng North Community…… Detailed information about Dezheng North Community++

Further Reading:

·National Second-Class Museum of China

·First Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units